Metal joint



L. V. MIDDLESWORTH Jun 15 1926.

A METApJoINT Filed April 18, 1925 F1 1 Patented June 15, 1926.

UNITED STATES LEONARD V. MIDDLESWORTH, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

METAL JOINT.

Application led Apri1'18, 1925. Serial No. 24,163. y

rIhis invention relates to metal joints, and an object thereof is to provide an improved joint in which the crossed metal bars are interlocked by opposite iiaring portions of one bar engaging in opposite Haring recesses in the other bar.

Another' object of the invention is to provide an improved joint for holding crossed metal bars in rigid connection, comprising a slot in one bar having opposite flaring portions at its inner end, and means for forcing flaring portions of the second bar into the flaring portions of said slot when said two bars are pressed into proper relationship.

Other objects will appear from the following description, reference being made to the drawing in which- Fig. l is a view in elevation showing my improved joint.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1.

Fig.,3 is a View showing the bar with the flaring slot. Y

Fig. 4 is a similar view of the other bar.

Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view on the line 6-6 of Fig. 4.

Each of the bars shown comprises a Web 1 and a bead 2 at one edge of the web.

One ofthe bars is provided with a slot 3 extending through the bead 2 and into the web 1. The inner or bottom wall of the slot 3 is in the form of a wedge 4, and the inner end of said slot 3 comprises opposite flaring portions 5. The bead 2 at each side of the slot 3 is provided with miter recesses 6 to fit closely with corresponding miter recesses 7 in the bead 2 of the other bar.

The web l of the other bar lis provided with a slot 8 to receive the web l of the bar containing the slot 3, and the bottom wall of said slot 8 is shaped to conform to the shape of the wedge 4.

The joint is formed by crossing the bars as shown in Figs. l and 2, and applying pressure thereto to force the bars to a relationship in which their edges are in the same plane and to cause the wedge 4 to force the 50 contacting portions of the bar containing the slot 8 to spread apart and fill the flaring portions 5 of the slot 3, as will be readily understood by reference to Fig. 2. This provides a very strong joint in which a locking device is provided at each side of one of the bars, making it impossible for the bars to be separated.

From the foregoing it will be seen that my improved joint obtains all of its intended objects and purposes in a highly efficientand satisfactory manner, and may be varied somewhat without departing from the natur and principle of the invention.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is v l. In a joint of the character described, the combination of two crossed bars one of which has a slot therein provided with opposite Haring portions at its inner end, and the otherof which fills said slot and has portions flaring oppositely and filling the flaring portions of said slot. A j

2. In a joint of thel character described, the combination of two crossed bars, one of which has a slot therein the bottom wall of which is wedge-shaped and which has oppo site flaring portions at the inner end of said slot at opposite sides of said wedge-shaped wall, and the other of which fills said slot and said flaring portions.

LEONARD V. MIDDLESVORTH. 

